02/14/2026
A fun story from the world of live events worth your time to read!
A young man in his early 20s saw my show at his club and reached out about hiring me for their fundraiser. We had a great conversation. I sent over my rate and all the details so everything was clear and in writing.
A few days later he called back.
“I have a friend who does magic,” he said. “He can do your show for less.”
I told him what I believe:
"You didn’t just enjoy the effects in the show. You enjoyed the whole experience in addition to the "amazing "tricks"". My personality, timing, stage presence, audience management, original material that has been worked on for 25 years, the ability to read and control a room. Those things are built over years, and are tough for others to replicate."
He listened and said they are going to use their friend to save the money.
We ended the call with my best wishes. I told him I hoped his friend crushed it and that the event was a huge success. I really meant that!
This week I received an email:
"The event didn’t go well... The performance was not good... I'm so embarrassed." And now, they’d like to book me for their next fundraiser, agreeing to my full rate.
For any event - the entertainment isn’t background noise. It sets the energy, affects donations and impacts how people feel about the entire night.
A weak or amateur performer can drain the energy from room and ruin an event. It's all anyone will talk about - and not in a good way.
There’s an old lesson in business that keeps proving itself true:
You (almost) always get what you pay for.
When it comes to live experiences, it’s not just the show. It’s everything around the show. The preparation, the professionalism, the communication, the feeling that the person on stage can carry and control the room. These are things that come from years of experience.
If the stakes are high, don’t gamble to save a few dollars.
Book unforgettable. Book Michael Gutenplan
Michael Gutenplan is the top-rated mentalist for corporate events and private parties. Performing nationwide, he’s the best entertainer for your next event.
